DO YOU SNORE OR HAVE OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA)?
Dr. Reardon, along with being a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, is a member of both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He works with some of the top E.N.T. and sleep physicians in town to treat both snoring and sleep apnea. He will try to shed some light on these two important topics and answer some basic questions.
Is my snoring a problem?
The raspy sound of a snore can be more than just an annoying and inconvenient habit. Habitual snoring affects roughly 24 percent of adult women and 40 percent of adult men. Snoring is the result of your airway narrowing, causing air to be inhaled at an increased speed and pressure. This makes the tissues in the back of your mouth vibrate and produces the snoring sound. Heavy, loud snoring can be a sign of a much more serious health problem called sleep apnea.
What are some of the social and health consequences of snoring?
- Snoring is number three on the list of reasons for divorce (only infidelity and finances are blamed before snoring).
- Snoring is distressing for sleep partners.
- Sleep deprivation has a negative impact on well-being and quality of life.
- Snoring is an embarrassment when traveling with others.
- Snorers experience tiredness, morning headaches, dry mouth, relationship difficulties, lower blood oxygen levels and other associated consequences.
- New research has shown that loud snoring poses serious health risks.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious disorder in which your breathing stops repeatedly while you sleep. These breathing stops are called “apneas”. An apnea event last from 10 to 30 seconds and may happen hundreds of times a night. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the most common type, happens when the airway becomes blocked during sleep. A blockage is usually caused by the soft tissue in the back of your mouth collapsing and closing during sleep. Relaxed throat muscles, a narrow airway, a large tongue or extra fatty tissue in the throat can also block your airway. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine estimates that 18 million Americans have OSA, with 80 to 90 percent being undiagnosed and untreated.
Sign of sleep apnea
- Choking or stopping breathing during sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Waking up tired or thirsty
- Limbs jerk during sleep
- Lack of concentration
- High blood pressure
- Morning headaches
- Heavy, loud snoring
- Fatigue
Dangers of sleep apnea
Untreated sleep apnea is serious. It increases your risk for:
- Stroke
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Heart Attack
- Depression
Sleep apnea also contributes to learning and memory problems, poor job performance, irritability, decreased libido, and a higher risk for car accidents.
Treatment of snoring and OSA
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) now recommends oral appliances as a front line of treatment for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea, and in cases where CPAP has not been tolerated. The FDA has approved certain oral appliances for the treatment of both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. These custom-made appliances reposition your tongue and lower jaw forward during sleep to maintain an open airway. They are comfortable, easy to wear and non-invasive. Most patients find that it only takes a few nights to become accustomed to wearing them.
On your first visit, Dr. Reardon, will make a determination as to whether an oral appliance would work for you. Possibly, an evaluation by a sleep disorder specialist might be necessary. Many medical insurance plans will cover the appliances that Dr. Reardon offers.